On April 10th, the Committee on House Ways and Means (HWM) released its version of the state FY2020 budget. The Committee's recommendation includes an additional $30 Million in funding for nursing home care; establishes a Nursing Facility Emergency Task Force to make recommendations on long term sustainability of the nursing facility sector.

The 2026 AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program application cycle is now open. Participating in the Quality Award Program offers organizations valuable external perspectives, actionable feedback, stronger team collaboration, increased resilience, and improved performance – all leading to better care and quality of life for residents.

On July 31, 2025, MassHealth issued a bulletin, Nursing Facility 194, updating the requirements for the MDS 3.0 Assessments for Nursing Facility Fee for Service Payments effective July 1, 2025. This bulletin describes how MDS assessments will be used to determine payment; the responsibilities of nursing facilities when completing and submitting assessments; and the MDS audit process.

On July 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adopted the 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System. It includes updates to the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) program which begins on January 1, 2026. Mass Senior Care will be holding a webinar on Understanding the New Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) payment program on Tuesday, September 23 to help nursing facilities understand and prepare for the impacts of the TEAM program’s implementation.

On August 5, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue reported to the Legislature that preliminary revenue collections for July totaled $2.69 billion; $7 million or 0.3% more than actual collections in July 2024. July is the first month of the new fiscal year, and the Department of Revenue notes that these results may not necessarily be representative of the trend for the entire year.

On August 5, 2025, Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental appropriations bill that includes $259 million to cover unfunded program costs for fiscal year 2025. The supplemental budget includes a provision with respect to last year’s FY 2025 rest home rates that requires EOHHS to ensure that FY2025 rates total $4 million more than rates in effect as of January 1, 2024.

The Foundation is accepting applications for its 2025 awards up until this afternoon, Friday, August 8.

• Massachusetts AG Campbell Reaches $6 Million Settlement • CMS Adopts Updates to TEAM Program Payment Model